Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-31
NEW YEARS DUTIES.

We do not want to sermonize on the philosophy of New Years retrospect or introspect, but we wish in praying for our friends and readers Happy New Year, to suggest how even in the midst of pres ent and pressing ills, some approach to the happiness may be reached.
 And first, do not enter on the New Year body; sleep not tonight on your anger for even the most offending of your foes. Every man, it is said, has his enemies. The man who has not is not worth living not worth thinking about; he is the pro- verbal chip in porridge giving neither flavor nor strength to the compound; a negative character without the essentials of success to excite envy or the qualities of recklessness to provoke fear. Preserve your equanimity, then, in the presence of enmity; the more so if you are inno- cent of having deserved it. What, though your "bosom friend" of a year ago turn against you with the bitterness of foe; what, though his words of loving praise have become the lying phrases of personal or professional abuse; put it down to inn petuosity of temper rather than to an ingrained badness of mind; and forgive him to night and forget the wrong for all time. If in the family circle there should be irregularities of thought and tone, any of those incompatibilities which will in wade the best regulated households and in terfere with the regular round of domestic happiness, smooth them down and adjust them tonight; and let not another year dawn on divided home interests.
 In every relation of life-commercial, social, personal, political and even relig- ious-the same philosophy will apply. The great lesson of 8 week ago, "Peace on earth-good will to men'' was not taught for a day, but given forth for observance and application in all times It is divine command proclaimed by the herald angels of the Incarnation; and at no festival can it be more pointedly or practically enforced than when stepping over the threshold from the old to the new; leaving the old year behind us with all it's cares and crimes, it's wickedness and worries; and entering on the new life with the New Year with high resolves and with earnest prayers to be strengthened for the fulflment thereof
 In this feeling, asking considerate for giveness from any whom we may have un- consciously annoyed; and extending heartfelt pardon to any who may have, in weakness or wickedness, in mischief or in malice, in thoughtlessness or in treachery, annoyed or injured us, we wish Happy New Year. We personify the general ob- ligation of Charity in order to make it's in- culcation more practical. What we coun- sel others to do we do ourselves. We have not, to be sure, arrived at the sublime point of Christian excellence-we doubt if any one but the One ever did-of, having been smitten on one cheek, turning the the other to the smiter; but by gentleness might avoid the blow, as charity would forgive it.
 Once more then "A Happy New Year. to all who come within the purview of our good wishes; indeed like Tiny Tim, we wish Ito all and every one" in the broad circle of humanity, within our sphere or without, all tho joys of hope and all the happiness of realization.